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Bryan Stableford throws a Frisbee around Sam Kaye during an Ultimate Frisbee League game
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Wednesday nights at the Fredericksburg Field House serve more than one purpose for local Ultimate Frisbee enthusiasts.
Not only does the field house offer a warm indoor sports facility for adults to indulge in their passion, it also hosts something of a social gathering.
Sixty players have already signed up for the Ultimate Frisbee league that is in just its second week of existence.
Players said one of the main attractions to the new league is that it's a safe way to meet new people with common interests.
Men and women play the sport together, and are mainly on an equal playing field. Physical contact is minimal, so anyone who can catch a Frisbee is useful.
"The social experience is what brings people in," said Kent Gold, who was a consultant on the field house project. "[Ultimate Frisbee] is a sport and and social club in one."
Added field house assistant manager Brevin Boyd: "It's a true co-ed sport, and it's all about the spirit of the game. There are no referees, so we have to have mutual respect for each other."
On Sunday afternoons, more than 20 Ultimate Frisbee players can be seen running around outside at Old Walker-Grant High School in Fredericksburg.
But there, players are at the mercy of weather conditions. That's why they're enjoying the cozy new indoor environment.
"I enjoy it," said Drew Weaver, 28, who travels from LaPlata, Md., to participate. "Everywhere I've played, there's a great group of people. It's a fun and easy-going sport."
Ultimate Frisbee has been around for more than 35 years. It's played at a fierce pace and is similar to football, without the contact. Players throw a disc around until one catches it in scoring territory. Scores are one point each.
It's a popular sport among college students and older high school kids. Bryan Stableford, 42, found that out on Wednesday night. Stableford, an avid disc golf player from Fredericksburg, was recruited to play in the league by Boyd.
"It's totally different from disc golf," Stableford said. "We don't do so much running. But this is good exercise. I can do it to get in shape."
A few University of Mary Washington students play as well. Sam Kaye, 21, is a member of a club team at UMW, but said he couldn't resist joining the new league.
"It's just all about fun and being around fun people," Kaye said. "We don't care about winning."
Ultimate Frisbee is one of several leagues that field house managers are hoping will be good for business. It has six teams so far and players pay $70 each.
The league will play a small part in helping cover the bills at the $2.4 million field house.
Gold, who has helped open five other indoor sports facilities across the country (including Richmond), said building such an expensive facility in an area that's not a big city is risky.
But he said so far, field house owner John Wack has proven to be business savvy. He said one of Wack's selling points was that the Fredericksburg area is rapidly growing.
"You have to have guts and you have to have a passion for it," Gold said. "[Wack] really has a passion for it, but there is a risk involved. They're going to have to come up with that mortgage every month."
The field house was scheduled to open in January, but was delayed until March 7 because of winter weather.
Gold said the opening is untimely because most people start to venture outside when spring approaches. Winter is the busiest time of year for indoor sports facilities.
"[The opening date] was unfortunate," Gold said. "But they should be able to overcome it."
Besides Ultimate Frisbee, there will also be soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and flag football leagues at the field house. The building also houses Do Hap Sool Martial Arts and Fitness, a women's gym and a retail shop.
Gold said all of those features should help the field house thrive.
"People think [indoor sports facilities] are all about youth sports," Gold said. "But adult recreation is what really drives these places."
For information about the Ultimate Frisbee league at the Fredericksburg Field House call Brevin Boyd at 361-4717.
To reach TAFT COGHILL JR.: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com
